What we can't stop there. We know our economy is stronger -- our lives our mothers. Our daughters. Can live their lives free from discrimination in the workplace. And free from the fear of domestic violence. Today the senate passed the violence against women's act that Joseph Biden originally wrote. Almost forty years ago and I know. How to do the. Then I ask this congress to declare that women should -- a -- a living. Equal to their efforts. And finally pass the paycheck fairness act this year. We know our economy stronger when we reward an honest days work -- honest wages. But today a full time worker making the minimum wage earns. 141500. Dollars a year. Even -- the tax relief we put in place. The family -- two kids that earns the minimum wage still lives below the poverty line. That's wrong. That's why since the last -- this congress raised the minimum wage. Nineteen states have chosen to bump there is even higher. Tonight. Let's declare that in the wealthiest nation on our. No one who works full time should have to live in poverty. And -- -- the federal minimum. This single step would raise the incomes of millions of working friends. It could mean the difference between groceries -- the food bank. Renter evictions. Scraping by or finally getting ahead. For businesses across the country -- customers with more money in the -- past. Whole lot of folks out there -- private need less help from government. In fact working folks shouldn't have to wait a year after year for the minimum wage to go up while CEO pay has never been higher. So here's an idea of the governor Romney and I actually agreed on Lester. Let's talk the minimum wage of the cost of living so that it finally becomes a -- you can live off. Tonight let's also recognize that there are communities in this country where no matter how hard you work. It is virtually impossible to get it. Factory towns decimated from years of plants packing up. Inescapable pockets of poverty. Urban and rural. We're young adults are still fighting for their first job. America's not a place where the chance of birth or circumstance should decide our destiny. And that's why we need to build new ladders of opportunity in the middle class for all more willing to climb up. Let's offer incentives to companies that hire Americans. Who got what it takes to fill that job opening but have been out of work so long that no one will give them a chance anymore. Let's put people back to work rebuilding vacant homes and rundown neighborhoods. And this year my administration will begin to partner with -- of the hardest hit towns in America to get these communities back on their feet. -- will work with local leaders to target resources the public safety and education. And house. We'll give new tax credits to businesses that hire and invest. And we'll work to strengthen families by removing the financial deterrence to marriage for low income couples and do more to encourage fatherhood. Because what makes your -- and the ability to conceive a child it's having the courage to raise want. Stronger families. Stronger communities. A stronger America. It is this kind of prosperity. -- Shared. Built on a thriving middle class. That has always been the source of our progress at home. It's also the foundation of our power. And influence throughout the world.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

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